Saturday, July 30, 2011

As I spend the next few blogs in Temecula for this series I thought I would lighten things up by showing you how the Ramona name is even used as the name of a tire company. This is the one in Temecula, but they are all over the Inland Empire. Of course, as one might expect, the headquarters is in Hemet.Ramona Epic #17: Ramona Tire (Youtube Version)

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Here is one I was not sure I was going to post on here when I did it a year ago. I was at the same spot over a month ago, and I decided to post this composite.

Leavitt Falls is on the way to Sonora Pass via HWY 108. I usually come by this area once every few years, but we were interested in the water levels this year due to snowmelt at the time. The left side picture is from August, 2010, and the right side is from mid-June 2011. It just gives you an idea of how the water was in June of this year. There is a lot of water in the streams and lakes this year which is good.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Here we have our big transition in the story. After Alessandro left and had been gone for many days he comes back to the rancho:

In the 13th chapter of the book, before the above scene takes place, there is very little dialogue with most of the characters trying to outthink and out-scheme each other. In my notes I referred to this chapter as the "silent chapter". Ms. Jackson writes this about Senora Moreno:

"There is nothing so skilful(sic) in its own defence as imperious pride. Ithas an ingenious system of its own, of reprisals, -- a system soingenious that the defeat must be sore indeed, after which it cannotstill find some booty to bring off! And even greater than thisingenuity at reprisals is its capacity for self-deception. In thisregard, it outdoes vanity a thousandfold. Wounded vanity knowswhen it is mortally hurt; and limps off the field, piteous, alldisguises thrown away. But pride carries its banner to the last; andfast as it is driven from one field unfurls it in another, neveradmitting that there is a shade less honor in the second field thanin the first, or in the third than in the second; and so on till death. Itis impossible not to have a certain sort of admiration for this kindof pride. Cruel, those who have it, are to all who come in theirway; but they are equally cruel to themselves, when pride demandsthe sacrifice. Such pride as this has led many a forlorn hope, on theearth, when all other motives have died out of men's breasts; haswon many a crown, which has not been called by its true name."

Regarding the above scene, there are a couple of crucial differences between what happens in the play and what happens in the book. Alessandro does come back to the rancho at night, and Ramona meets him. He reveals that his family and tribe were forced out of Temecula. The thing about his father being shot is different than the book. In the book he is ill. Alessandro takes him to nearby Pachanga where he dies. He buries his father there. In the play he states the Temecula cemetery had been destroyed, but in the book it is a matter of them not being allowed on the property now that it is owned by the white man.

In the book and the play, Alessandro does give Ramona her new name, Majel, the wood-dove. Ramona states she thinks it might be better as Majella, and Alessandro agrees. They both agree to leave together.

So, after all this time, this is the point of no return. Ramona leaves Felipe a note, but she has left the rancho for good. She is now going to live her life as the Indian she is with Alessandro.

When I get back to this in a few weeks I have a series of about five locations in row that relate to their trek from the rancho to where they are married.

Sunday, July 10, 2011

In the play, the intermission is right after the fiesta scene they have at the rancho. Then, after a bit of slapstick from some of the minor bit characters while everyone is coming back to their seats, we have the two scenes that create the great turning point of the whole story.

The problem for Senora Moreno at this point is trying to resolve the Ramona/Alessandro situation. The idea is Ramona has brought shame to the rancho with her actions regarding a low class Indian. One of the Senora's thoughts is to send Ramona away to be a nun. The Senora has always seen Ramona as a burden from her sister. This would resolve dealing with Ramona once and for. Although, there is some idea that Felipe might take Ramona as his wife, and that would be more respectful in her eyes.

The Senora does have one other card to play that was provided by her sister before her death. An iron box with jewels, a hankerchief belonging to her father (Angus Phail), and a note from her adopted mother (the Senora's sister: Señora Ortegna). This is somewhat like an inheritance for Ramona, but in order to get it she must marry "worthily" otherwise the inheritance becomes property of the church. This is essentially what the note reveals.

So, the jewels are what the Senora uses to bribe Ramona back into her way of thinking.As was mentioned at the very beginning of the series, the reader is told within the first few chapters that Ramona has Indian orgins through her real mother. She is also Irish through her father, although that is not as emphasized in the play as much as in the book. Both the book and the play have a few other characters discuss her origins. Then, it is finally at this point that Ramona learns of her real mother and her Indian heritage.

One thing I should point out is I cut out of the play's scene just a little early in the video. After rejecting the jewels and revealing that she will marry Alessandro no matter what, Ramona runs out, the Senora falls down as if losing consciouness. This is to indicate that her time is coming to an end, and it is also the last we see of her in the play. In the book this part does not happen for this scene.

Saturday, July 09, 2011

I should note that this marks the intermission point of the play. As far as this series is concerned we have a few more blog entries before we reach the mid-way point. I want to emphasize that the next two videos are crucial for direction of the rest of the series. Check back soon.

Friday, July 08, 2011

I had started this one with a rant on the lunacy that happens on the July 4th weekend in the Eastern Sierra. I deleted it. Let me give you the quick version: the property owners, that I know of, loathe this holiday period due to the heavy concentration of people, the trash/litter, the inability to drive the roads properly, trespassing, and just rude behavior. It is a relief when it is over, and some recovery has to take place. The following is probably one of those situations that you have to be on guard over anytime of the year, but especially the July 4th weekend.

On the way to Carson City, NV on HWY 395 there is a section of road that really curves back and forth. This truck overturned on the road right next to the Walker River.

The guys working there were still transferring all the goods from the truck three hours later when we went back through there. Meanwhile, the water is really flowing in the Walker River right now.
There is lots of water running from the snow melt. Much snow is still in the back country for this time of the year. Because of this, I am not sure how much hiking I will get done this year. There are one or two things I would like to get done, but I have to wait it out right now.

In the meantime, I did get a bunch of movie locations videoed. Most of those are new versions of some areas I have done in the past. That is just a matter of getting the editing done. The next three blogs will get us to about the halfway point of the Ramona series. There are some fun locations still to come for that series; this is why I want to put up the next three in a few days time. At that point, things will be a changing! As of right now, I let my Vimeo+ subscription run out. Eventually, I will get it again sometime later this summer. It is important for me to keep Youtube in check with the competition.

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